Habs This Week – January 3, 2011

MONTREAL – After a gruelling seven game road-trip, the Canadiens will start off 2011 with a lighter workload, playing only two games in the first week of the new year. Following a home game against the Thrashers, Jacques Martin’s squad will enjoy a three day break before playing host to the Penguins and Bruins.

Canadiens vs. Penguins – Thursday, January 6 @ 7:30 PM

Sidney Crosby and the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins pay their first visit of the season to Montreal to take on the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. The teams’ first meeting took place in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9 and saw the Habs walk away victorious after Scott Gomez potted the winning goal with less than two minutes left in the match.

Thursday’s game will be a good measuring-stick for the Habs as Dan Bylsma’s troops currently occupy the top spot in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. The matchup should also set the table for the next face-off between the clubs, slated to take place less than a week later, also in Montreal.

Saturday night’s game will see the Canadiens square off against long-time rivals the Boston Bruins for the third time this season. The Habs have so far held the upper-hand in 2010-11, toppling the Bruins in their first two meetings. Getting the win will be especially crucial for Jacques Martin and the Canadiens as the Bruins sit only two points ahead of them in the Northeast Division.

The Canadiens will be looking to Brian Gionta to help provide an offensive spark with the Habs’ captain having scored a goal in both games against the Bruins this season. Scott Gomez has also enjoyed a measure of success against Boston, notching three points over the two matchups. The Habs will be gunning to extend their win-streak against the Bruins to five, after victories in seven of their last eight tilts versus Boston.

Vincent Cauchy is a writer for canadiens.com. Translated by Justin Fragapane.